Permutation-lock.



1510.849314. PATBNTBD APR. 2,190?.

H. A. ALM.

PERMUTATION LOCK.

APPLICATION ILED MAY 11, 1906: E9 1j-z i 7( zsHBBTs-SHBBT 1.

No. 849,714. PATBNTED APR. 9, 1907. H. A. ALM.

PBRMUTATION LOCK. APPLICATION FILED MAY 11,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

1H: NoRms PHL-Rs co., was/amara, D. r:4

HANS A. ALM, OF HANKINSON, NORTH DAKOTA.

PERIVIUTATION-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

'ratentee April 9, 1907.

Application filed May 11,1906. Serial No. 316,282.

T0 (ir/ZZ who/it it 'mf/ty concern:

Be it known that I, HANS A. ALM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hankinson, in the county of Richland and State of North Dakota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fcrniutation- Locks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates particularly to locks for post-oilice boxes, and has for its especial object to provide an improved pei'mutation or combination lock therefor.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and deiined in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation looking at the outer faces of several post-office boxes and showing my improved lock applied to the several boxes, some parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line t2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line fc3 et of Fig. 2, some parts being broken away. Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a vertical section approximately on the line 005 905 of Fig. Zl. Fig. 6 is an edge elevation of the door of one of the boxes, and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line :c7 at of Fig. l, some parts being broken away.

Post-oflice boxes, as is well-known, are usually arranged both in horizontally and vertically extended rows and at their outer ends are provided with hinged doors having transparent panes, which permit the contents of the boxes to be seen from the outer side of the tier of boxes. This arrangement is indicated in Fig. l. but in the description which will follow a single box and lock mechanism will be described, the others being duplicates thereof.

The numeral 1 indicates the box, which is open at its inner end and at its outer end is provided with a hinged door 2, having a transparent pane 2a. The door 2, as shown, is provided at its free edge with inwardlyprojecting hook-like lugs 3 *and* at its lower edge is provided with a leaf-spring 4, that is compressed against the end of the box when the door is closed and which serves to impart an initial opening movement to the door when the said door is released.

Secured in an upright position within the box at one side thereof and adjacent to the free edge of the door 2 is an upright lock-case 5, which is provided with a removable side plate 6. Intermediately pivoted to the iixed side plate of the case 5, one above the other, is a pair of lock-levers 7, the outwardlyprojecting ends of which are bent laterally at 7LL Vfor engagement one with each of the lock-lugs 3 of the door 2. The inner ends of these lock-levers 7 are pivotally connected to a vertical bar S, the upper end of which bar is pivotally connected to the intermediate portion of a lock-releasing lever 9. This lock-releasing lever 9 at its forward end is pivoted to the 'iixcd plate of the case 5, and the rear end thereof projects beyond the box, so that an attendant on the inner side of the door of the box may unlock the door of the box simply by pressing upward on the set end of the lever 9. By reference to Fig. 6 it will be noted that the depending portion of the lock-lugs 3 are beveled, so that when the door is pressed closed it will cam downward the forward ends of the locklevers 7 and cause the ends 7L of said levers to automatically engage with the said locklugs to lock the door after the manner of a spring-lock. lt may be here stated that, if desirable, the lock-cases 5 may forni the partitions between adjacent boxes.

The permutation or combination devices for releasing the door-lock are as follows: Mounted for vertical movements in a channel-guide l0, secured to the ixed side of the lock-case 5, is a releasing bolt or slide 11, which has a plurality of closely-positioned pin-seats 12, arranged in a vertical iow. The numeral 123 indicates so-called combination-pins, which are adapted to be inserted in any desired number and in dil'l'erent arrangements within the piu-seats l2. The lower end of the releasing-bolt 11 normally rests upon the 'foot-llange 14 of an adjustable bolt-setting block 15, which block, as shown, is provided with a plurality of notches 16, any one of which are adapted to be engaged with a tooth 17 of a vertical post i8, rigidly secured to the bottoni of the case 5, as best shown in Fig. 2. The distance between the successive perforations l2 of the releasingbolt 1l should bc the same as the distance ICO between the notches 16 of the bolt-settingI block 15. The releasing-bolt 11 is arranged to work in the plane of the releasing-lever 9, and its upper end is adapted to engage the said lever and force the same upward, and thereby unlock the door, wheneverlthe said bolt is given a certain movement, which is predetermined by the setting of the block 15 with respect to a post or standard 1S. Vertical step-by-step movement will be imparted to the releasing-bolt 11 by the proper manipulation of a plurality of finger-actuated keys, preferably in the form of bars 19, the forward ends of which. form trunnion-like finger-pieces 20, that work freely through suitable seats formed in the front plate of the lock-case 5. The rearwardly or inwardly projected ends of the key-bars 19 are reduced to the form of fingers 21, that rest loosely upon the studs or pins 22 on the fixed side of the lock-case 5. Just forward of the fingers 21 the ends of the key-bars 19 are formed with inclined cam-surfaces 23, that terminate in stop projections 24. The key-bars 19 are yieldingly drawn forward, so that their finger-pieces 2O are projected, as shown .in Figs. 2 and 5, by means of light coiled springs 25, attached to said bars and to the freeedge of a latch-plate 26, that is hinged to the top and bottom of the lock-case at 26a. At its free edge this latch 26 has a vertically-extended inturned flange 27, that is yieldingly pressed against the sides of the key-bars 19 by means of the springs 25. The key-bars 19 are provided with cam-lugs 28, the beveled rear faces of which have a camming action on the flange 27 when the key-bars are pressed rearward or inwardf'ffhen the. key-bar is forced inward, its lug 2S passes inward of the said flange 27, and the said. flange then acts upon said lug to lock that key-bar in its most inward position. lWheii the next key-bar is forced inward, however, the free edge of the latch-plate 26 is forced away from the latchbars, and its flange 27 releases the lug 2S of the last previously-operated key and permits the said key to be returned to its normal or outermost position under the action of its spring 25. Below the key-bars 19 and below the lowermost lock-lever 7 is a so-called resetting-key 29, the body of which is shown as flat and the trunnion-like outer end B() of which works through the front plate of the lock-case 5. r.lheflat inner end of this resetting-key 29 rests loosely in a 'fiat open seat 31, formed on the fixed side of the lockcase 5. The arrangement of this resettingbar 29 is such that when it is given a partial rotation or rocking movement it will engage the flange 27 of the latch-plates 26, and thereby cause the lock to release the last set keybar 19. On the front end portion of the resetting-key 29 is a cam-finger 32, with which the forward end of the lower lock-lever 7 engages when forced downward. llVhen the said cam-finger 32 is engaged by said locklever, the resetting-key 29 will be rocked, with the result above stated In the following illustration the key-bars 19 are referred to as l1"irst, second, fthiicl, and fourth keys from the top successively to the bottom members. As shown in Fig. 2, the bolt-setting block 15 is lowered live notches from its extreme uppermost position, so thatA the releasing-bolty 11 will require five steps of movement to carry it high enough to first engage the releasinglever 9 and to then force the said lever high enough to cause" f the ends 7 a of the lock-levers 7 to be disengaged from the lock-lugs 3 of the The pins 13 are set in the seats 12 of the releasing-plunger for the following combination, to wit: 2-1- a 2 3-, which means that the second, first, fourth, and again the second and then the third keys must be operated in succession. TWhen the second key is forced inward, its lifting-finger 21 engages under the immediately-overlying pin 13, and then the cam-surface 23 by its engagement 'with the fixed pin 22 causes the said finger 21 to move upward and to thereby impart one step of movement to the said releasingplunger. This movement brings the uppermost pin 13 into a position which is above the finger 21 of the first or uppermost keybar, so that Vwhen this lock-key is forced inward a second step of upward movement will be imparted to the said releasing-plunger. The above movement of the first or uppermost key brings the lowermost pin 13, which is above the finger 21, of the fourth or lowermost key-bar, so that when this fourth key is forced inward a third step or upward movement will be'imparted to the said releasing-plunger. This movement of the fourth or lowermost key brings another pin 13 into position just above the finger 21 of the second key, so that this second key may then be again operated. This second operation of the said second key imparts a fourth step of upward movement to the releasingplunger 11, and thereby brings a pin 13 into a position just above the finger 21 of the third key-bar, so that when this latter keybar is moved inward a fifth step of upward movement will be imparted to said releasingplunger 11 and the door of the boX will be unlocked, as already described. As already indicated, the releasing movement of the lower lock-lever 7 rocks the resetting-key 29, and thereby causes the latch-plate 26 to release the last actuated key-bar 19. lWhen this last actuated key-bar returns to normal position, the releasing-plunger 11 is permitted to drop back to normal position upon the foot-flange 14 of the block 15.

From what has above been said it is evident that with a small number of keys a very great many different possible combinations are provided. It is also evident that any or IOC all of the keys may be used several times in the same lock-releasing operation.

The expression lock-releasing bolt is herein used in a broad sense to include any part which is mounted for progressive movement to release the locking mechanism, and the term keys and key-bars is also used in a broad sense to include 'finger-actuated elements arranged for action on said lock-releasing bolt.

l/Vhat I claim isl. In a permutation-lock, the combination With locking mechanism, of a releasing meinber arranged to release said locking mechanism, by a predetermined step-by-step movement, and a plurality of key members having portions exposed Where they may be engaged by the fingers and operative on said releasing member, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart the successive stepby-step releasing movement thereto, substantially as described.

2. In a permutation-lock, the combination with locking mechanism, of a releasing member arranged to release said locking mechanism, by a predetermined step-by-step movement, means for setting said releasing meinber in different normal positions, a plurality of key members operative on said releasing member, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a successive step-by-step releasinOr movement thereto, and means for changing the operative order of succession of said key members, substantially as described.

3. In a permutation-lock, the combination With locking mechanism, of a releasing-bolt having a plurality oi pins or projections, and a plurality of key-bars and cooperating cam devices, Which key-bars are operative on the pins or projections of said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order or succession, to impart a step-by-step movement thereto, and thereby causing the same to release the said locking mechanism, substantially as described.

4. In a permutation-lock, the combination With locking mechanism, of a lock-releasing bolt operative, by a predetermined step-bystep movement, to release said locking mechanism, an adjustable stop-block for setting said bolt in diilierent normal positions, adjustable combination-pins on said releasingbolt, and a plurality of key-bars operative on the pins of said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a stepby-step lock-releasing movement to said bolt, substantially as described.

5. In a permutation-lock, the combination with locking mechanism, of a lock-releasing bolt operative by a predetermined step-bystep movement to release said locking mechanism, a plurality of spring-retracted keybars operative on said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a step-by-step lock-releasing movement thereto, and a yieldingly-pressed latch-plate operative on said key-bars to hold the last operated key-bar in its operated position and to release the last previously-operated key-bar, substantially as a described.

6. In a permutation-lock, the combination with locking mechanism, of a lock-releasing bolt having a plurality oi' adjustable combination pins or projections, and operative, under a predetermined step-by-step movement, to release said locking mechanism, an adjustable stop-block for setting said bolt in ditlerent normal positions, a plurality of key-bars operative on the pins of said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a step-by-step lock-releasing movement to said bolt, a springpressed latch-plate operative to lock the last operated key-bar in an operated position, and to release the last previously-operated key-bar, and means whereby said latch-plate is given a key-b ar-releasing movement, simultaneously with the last step of movement of said lock-bolt, substantially as described.

7. In a permutation-lock, the combination with locking mechanism, of a lock-releasing bolt or member arranged to release said locking mechanism, by a predetermined step-bystep movement, a plurality ol key-bars operative on said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a stepby-step lock-releasing movement thereto, a latch-plate `for locking the last operated keybar in an operated position, and for releasing the last previously-operated key-bar, and means independent of said key-bars lor imparting a releasing movement to said latchplate, at will, substantially as described.

S. The combination with locking mechanism, ol a releasing-bolt having a plurality oi' pins, and arranged to release said locking mechanism by a predetermined step-by-step movement, and a plurality of key-bars and cooperating Iixed cam pins or projections, said key-bars having cam-surfaces that act upon said fixed cani-pins, and having projecting Vlingers that operate on the pins of said releasing bolt or member, substantially as described.

9. The combination with a post-oiiice box having a hinged door at its outer end, et a locklever cooperating with the locking element on said door, to lock the same in a closed position, a releasing bolt or member operative, by a predetermined step-by-step movement, to move said lock-lever and unlock said door, and a plurality ot key-bars operative on said releasing-bolt, in a predetermined order of succession, to impart a step-by-step lock-releasing movement thereto, said key-bars having Vlinger-pieces exposed at the exterior' of said box, substantially as described.

l0. The combination with a post-oflice box having a hinged door at its outer end, ol a lock-lever cooperating with the locking element on said door, to lock the same, a lever IIO ISO

connection extending to the inner end of said seid key-bars having finger-pieces exposed et 1o box, Whereby the door may be unlocked7 et the front of said boX7 substantially as dewill7 a look-releasing bolt operative, by e prescribed.

determined step-by-step movement, to im- In testimony whereof I ax my signature part a step-by-step look-releasing movement in presence of tWo Witnesses.

to said bolt, and a plurality of key-bars op- HANS A. ALM. erative on said releasing-bolt7 in a predeter- Witnesses:

mined order of succession, to impart a step- E. L. KINNEY,

by-step look-releasing movement theretml L. J BLEECKER. 

